Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-16
CITIZENS AND THE SCHOOLS.
A Report Submitted to the Fifth Dis.
trict Association Last Night.

| THE PRESENT MANAGEMENT OF THE SCHOOLS CRrTI
| CIsED-THE PROPOSED NEW SCHOOL LAw-THI
| 14fH-sTREET 'BOBTAILs" AGAIN UNDER CONSIDER
| ALTON.
Citizens Association, No. s. held meeting last
evening at the Lutheran Memorial church, Mr..
Reginald Fendail in the chair, and MI. r. w. Fen
wick secretary. The amendment to the constitu-
| ton, changing the number OF the association
from to 5, and the southern boundary Of the dis
| trct from Pennsylvania avenue to street. was
| adopted The chair submitted the following
| recommendations from the presidents conference
| which were adopted:
| i. That each delegation to the Central Associa-
| ton organize by electing chairman.
2 The chairman OF each delegation be author
lied and instructed to I'LL any temporary or per-
| manent vacancy In Its number from its list of
| alternates.
3 That each committee OF the several local asso-
Citations organize without delay and Immediately
begin an investigation OF the subject In its charge
Win view OF aScertaintng its present condition
and its needs, and at the earliest day practicable
submit report to its own association with recon-
mendatiOnS.
4 That each association hold regular meetings
with view OF perfecting and strengthening its
organzatlon, and more thoroughly informing its
membership OF the condition and needs of its own
DIVISION, and OF the District generally and pre-
pairing matters for the consideration OF the Cen
D That all communications with the Central
Assoclation should be through the local associa-
ons ana accompanied by resolutions of the latter.
RECORD OF FRAUD"
communication from Mrs. " l. Ingersoll, Ali
Attn street. was read suggesting that some steps be
taken for keeping in this city 'record of fraud"
by an officer OF the Government for the purpose
OF protecting the honest from the dishonest. She
Salu tnat nail The litigation in the District arose
from differences between landlords and tenants
| and the other half was divorce cases. The dead
beats ID TINS City, like Tennysons Brook, went on
forever and She thought that If these people were
generally known their power OF evil would be
| greatly lessened- The paper was referred to the
committee on printing Tor report.
In referring TO the question OF the association
noidlng regular meetings, the president said that
three weeks. All the districts had been organized
with the exception OF one, and it is expected that
an organization would be effected there within
TO mold regular meetings OF the association the
| first and third Fridays of each month.
THE FoURTEENTH-sTREET ''BOBTAns."
Reports were called for from the various stand
| ing committees, and Prof. Harry King, from the
committee on railroads. said that the directors OF
| the Washington and Georgetown Railroad Co.
met on the 18th inst, but he had not heard as yet
what action had been taken relative to putting
entlre tW0-horse car service on the 14th-street
branch. He would like the authority to represent
the association in the further negotiations with
| the company. He said that the other association,
which had been formed for the purpose OF RENE
dying the abuses Oh this line had determined up
on course OF action in case the company delayed
In this matter but he would like also This asocia
resolutions were adopted: "That it is the sense OF
this association that the 'bobtair car and other
Inconvenience which exist on the 14tn-Street
branch OF the ". d q. r. X. are obnoxious to the
best interests or the community and THAT the
10 ske on be and are hereby n thor
ment may be necessary to obtain relief In the
premises"
A REPORT ON SCHOOLS
Mr.. q. Richards from the committee on schools
submitted the following: "Your committee on
Sob hay had npap for
and have agreed to present a few somewhat gene
raj facts for your consideration and for suggeS-
lions: AT some future meeting We may be pre-
pared to present some considerations for some
definite action: 1St. We would suggest that to US
IL seems essentially important That the people
generally should be, and should consider them
selves, authorized TO have control of the school
system, which is supported by their own money
for the special benefit OF their own children. We
think this statement needs no proof from us; but
the facts are that under the present management
OF our schools the peOple-the real patrons of our
schools-are just about as far removed from all
control OF the education Of their children as posi-
bic. They have no voice, either directly by rep
| reSentaton, in the selection OF school Officers
teachers schOol-hOuses, school, books modes and
subjects OF training nor in the use Of the money
which they are obliged TO pay for school purposes.
These facts alone speak in thunder tones in favor
of new school Law, such as was Strangled at the
close OF the last session OF Congress- The peoples
schools ought not 10 be under the entire control OF
monarch or OF a trumvirate. Our officers should
be simply the executive OF the peoples Will
2. Your committee think it would be wise for
them TO act harmonouSly with the similar COM
mittees In the other eight Citizens Associations
and therefore propose TO hold joint meetings.
either as bodies or by subcommittee.
B. We propose TO give some special attention to
the future opening and the conduct OF the night
schools.
4. We propose to thoroughly consider the ques-
ton OF industrial hand training in the public
schools, and in connection with this the relation
OF military training to free schools.
D. We propose also to present facts to show that
the masses OF our people are most interested in
providing adequate and efficient instruction In the
lower grades OF schools in which n1ne-tenths OF
our children receive all the instruction they ever
enjoy.
s. We propose to find out whether the people
OF this District ought to be taxed TO provide school
houses and school teachers for thousands OF chill
dren who now attend our schools from outside the
District.
omy OF the conduct OF our public schools. We
wish TO find out If it is wise and good manage
ment OF our schools in this, the first school divi-
sion, that permits our eighty schools to have
seven hundred and nifty vacant seats in them, as
there were at the close OF the month Of March,
when our schools ought TO have been FULL so that
we must provide fourteen school rooms and four
teen teachers, more than the number OF pupils re-
Quire, allowing fifJy-fve to each school,
In this school division alone we are paying
over $1,000 Tor teachers salaries, not actually
| needed, saying nothing about the rent OF extra
We need more school rooms. Ii the same facts are
prevalent in the other school divisions our District
alone, and from $50 900 TO 600 Tor rent OF school
rooms, more than is absolutely necessary.
4. We propose TO examine into the terribly de-
fective and injurious methods OF ventilatng school,
rooms, by which the lives and health Of our teach
| erS and children are endangered and sacrificed.
.. We Oner now a few simple but Interesting
and instructive facts which will help TO inspire
our lnveStga tionS hereafter, and furnish thought
for your reflection: LIST, In 1880 under our munich
| pal governments in the city CT Washington, our
| public schools contained in round numbers about
20 schools, 20 teachers, and 1000 pupils, with
school buildings not worth more than s., 600, now
extinct. The amount paid to teachers was about
80 400, and for other expenses between g. 600 and
s. 900, not over 81, 900 In all The cost per pupil
was about So per annun. In the schools or George
town and the county there may have been 2jO or
300 pupils Now we have about 600 SchOOl-rOOms
6i0 teachers, over 30, 300 pupils and school build.
1ngS which have cost nearly 81, 800 900. Our ex-
penditureS Tor schools the coming year will come
near TO $500, 900, the average per pupil about
Sl9 per annuIn. We have two normal schools con-
tanning about GO pupils: two high schools OF about
LOO pupils; nineteen eighth grade, grammar
schools containing ABOUT ,9O0 pupils. Nearly
5000 Or 11-I2) OF our children in schools be-
low the eighth grade. In 1850 there was an ef1i-
Gent board OF trustees OF twelve for Washington
who were authorized and generally well qualified
10 direct and control school affairs. Now We have
nine nominal trustees, without power, who can
really do nothing bur tamely and cruuchingly sug-
| geSt advice 10 the tr1umvrate but who are rarely
consulted by the chief school officer who has Vir-
tuay under his control the expenditure OF $4,000
contingent money. We may hereafter have some
ciay IN regard TO the administration Of the inter
| hal management OF schools"
DISCUSSING THE NATTER.